The Lib Dems now have 30 seats on the district council compared to the Conservative’s 24, Labour’s three and the one independent seat.

In the county council elections for the St Albans South Ward, Verulum Ward councillor Martin Frearson won the seat with 1,482 votes. The Conservative’s Salih Gaygusuz won 1,250 votes, Labour’s Iain Grant won 540 and the Green Party’s Kate Metcalf received 249.

The by-election was called following the death of longstanding district and county councillor Mike Ellis.